Furo, Brazier

2014.01.0035A

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Basic Information

Artifact Identification Furo, Brazier   (2014.01.0035A)
Classification/
Nomenclature
  1. Materials T&E
  2. :
  3. Food Processing & Preparation T&E
  4. :
  5. Food Preparation Equipment
Artist/Maker Unknown
Geographic Location
Period Taisho
Date 1912 - 1925 CE
Culture N/A
Location Not on Exhibit

Physical Analysis

Dimension 1 (Width) 35.5 cm
Dimension 2 (Height) 22 cm
Dimension 3 (N/A) N/A
Weight 5019 g
Measuring Remarks N/A
Materials Metal--Iron
Manufacturing Processes Cast

Research Remarks

Description

Chanoyu is the ceremonial consumption of tea in Japanese culture. The practice involves numerous kinds of rituals, philosophies, and utensils. One utensil is the furo, or brazier. The furo is used to heat the water inside the kama. However, hosts do not always use the furo, and it was primarily used only in the summer. This is due to the minimal amount of heat the furo produces, which makes it great for heating the kama while keeping the rest of the room cool in the summer heat. In the winter, the furo is replaced with a hearth, which provides more warmth to the entire room. This particular furo is a pair set with the kama, an option for hosts when purchasing one. A lack of defining characteristics makes deducing any information difficult beyond that it was made during the Taisho period (1912-1925).

Published Description N/A
Bibliography

A. L. Sadler. 2019. Japanese Tea Ceremony : Cha-No-Yu and the Zen Art of Mindfulness. La
Vergne: Tuttle Publishing.

Deborah Clearwaters, Stephanie Kao, Yoko Woodson, Melissa Rinne, Scott McDougall, Alina
Collier, Tom Christensen, Robin Jacobson, Jason Jose, and Kaz Tsuruta. Experience Chanoyu: The Japanese Art of Tea, 2007. https://education.asianart.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2019/09/Chanoyu-packet.pdf

Nanganokobo, and Nagano Arata. “Wazuku Iron Kettles - Google Arts & Culture.” Translated by
Maiko Behr. Google. Accessed January 24, 2025. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/wazuku-iron-kettles-kyoto-women-s-university/SgVBJ9ZK8AklLg?hl=en

“Search the Collection, Collections, Spurlock Museum, U of I,” n.d.
https://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/search-collection/index.php?q=2014.01.0035&Search=Go.

Fujioka, Ryōichi, and Louise Allison Cort. Tea Ceremony Utensils. First edition. New York ;
Weatherhill/Shibundo, 1973.

User, Blue Spark Admin. “Pig Iron | International Iron Metallics Association.” Copyright (C)
2024 by International Iron Metallics Association, n.d.
https://www.metallics.org/pig-iron.html#:~:text=Overview,the%20runner%20the%20%E2%80%9Csow.%E2%80%9D

Artifact History

Credit Line/Dedication Gift of Robert C. and Donna M. Spina Helmholz
Reproduction No

Contact

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